Previously, Mayberry was a member of the bands Boyfriend/Girlfriend and Blue Sky Archives. Mayberry is a trained drummer and also did a four-year law degree, followed by a Masters in journalism. Cook was a member of Aereogramme and The Unwinding Hours and also wrote music for film and TV. Doherty was a live member of The Twilight Sad. According to Mayberry, "Iain and Martin went to university together so they've known each other for quite a long time".
The band started in October 2011 as a studio project between the long time friends Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Cook already knew Lauren Mayberry from working with Blue Sky Archives and suggested her as a potential vocalist for the project.
CHVRCHES were influenced by acts such as Prince, Tubeway Army, Robyn, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Laurie Anderson. The band write, record, mix and master everything in a basement studio in Glasgow.
In May 2012, they released the song "Lies". In the same year, CHVRCHES toured with Passion Pit, as the opening band for their concerts and also toured on their own. "Lies" ranked at number 28 on NME's Best Tracks of 2012. CHVRCHES also came fifth on the BBC's Sound of 2013 list.
On 25 March 2013, they released Recover EP. They performed at SXSW and won the Inaugural Grulke Prize (for Developing Non-US Act). The band also supported Depeche Mode on four shows in July during their The Delta Machine Tour 2013.
On 20 September 2013, CHVRCHES released their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. The album is supported by the singles "The Mother We Share", "Recover" and "Gun".
Links: official site at chvrch.es | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Tumblr | Vimeo
Strong Hand
CHVRCHES Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do you need?
There is a blank page
For you
Give me the bones of
What you believe
Maybe they'll save you
Will I be the strong hand
Keeping you safe
Or will I break you
In half
And you will never
Be under my thumb
But you are not your
Own man
See the way we all run
When we know it all off by heart
Playing down, waiting all out
Will we win or lose it this time?
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
Do you give up things that you love?
And the pressure's building 'til it takes you whole
Can you go back on your own word?
All of your brothers
They never died
For what you kill for
Slowly
How it will grind you
Into the ground
If you should try to
Hold me
See the way we all run
When we know it all off by heart
Played down, waiting all out
When we win or lose it this time
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
Do you give up things you love?
And the pressure's building 'til it takes you whole
Can you go back on your own word?
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
Do you give up things you love?
And the pressure's building 'til it takes you whole
Can you go back on your own word?
The lyrics to CHVRCHES's song Strong Hand seem to be about the power dynamic within a relationship or partnership. The singer asks their partner what they need and encourages them to share their beliefs with them. However, the singer also acknowledges that they have the capability to either keep their partner safe or harm them. The line "Will I be the strong hand keeping you safe, or will I break you in half?" illustrates this tension.
The song also touches on the idea of individuality within a relationship. The singer notes that their partner is "not your own man", meaning that they are not fully autonomous or in control of their own destiny. The chorus emphasizes how everyone is playing a game they already know the outcome of, but the stakes are high and it's unclear who will come out on top. The lines "when the pressure's building for a great white hope, do you give up things you love?" convey the idea of sacrificing one's own desires or values for the sake of success or validation.
The lyrics also hint at a sense of betrayal or disillusionment. The singer mentions how their partner's "brothers never died for what [they] kill for slowly". This could be interpreted as a reference to different values or priorities within the relationship, highlighting the potential for conflict and compromise.
Overall, the lyrics to Strong Hand seem to be a reflection on the complexities and challenges of relationships and the delicate balance of power dynamics and individualism within them.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you tell me
Asking for open communication and honesty in the relationship.
What do you need?
Inquiring about the other person's desires and wants.
There is a blank page
An opportunity for creating something new and fresh.
For you
Intended for the other person specifically.
Give me the bones of
Requesting the foundation and core beliefs of the other person.
What you believe
Asking for the other person's personal convictions and principles.
Maybe they'll save you
Implying that these beliefs can act as a refuge from difficult situations.
From me
Acknowledging the potential for harm in the relationship.
Will I be the strong hand
Questioning whether they will provide security and support.
Keeping you safe
Protecting the person from harm and danger.
Or will I break you
Consideration of whether their actions may cause harm physically or mentally.
In half
The extent of the possible damage caused by their actions.
And you will never
The other person cannot be controlled or dominated.
Be under my thumb
Metaphorically, the other person cannot be under their control or manipulation.
But you are not your
Acknowledging the other person's individuality and autonomy.
Own man
Expressing that the other person has agency and is not dependent on them.
See the way we all run
Observing how people react similarly in certain situations.
When we know it all off by heart
When a situation is familiar and we know exactly how to respond to it.
Playing down, waiting all out
Being passive and not actively engaging in difficult situations.
Will we win or lose it this time?
Questioning the eventual outcome of the situation.
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
The pressure to succeed or achieve greatness looming over a situation or person.
Do you give up things that you love?
The extent someone is willing to sacrifice for success.
And the pressure's building 'til it takes you whole
Intensity of pressure to the point of losing oneself and identity.
Can you go back on your own word?
Will someone sacrifice their values and principles for success?
All of your brothers
Other people who share similarities and similarities goals.
They never died
Although the pursuit of common goals may be difficult, there is never true loss of life.
For what you kill for
Sacrificing for something deemed important or valuable.
Slowly
A gradual and painful process.
How it will grind you
The eventual toll it takes on someone's endurance and mental state.
Into the ground
A metaphor for the negative impact of someone or something's influence.
If you should try to
If someone attempts to stop or resist their influence.
Hold me
Their attempt to resist their influence controlling and dominating them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAIN ANDREW COOK, LAUREN EVE MAYBERRY, MARTIN CLIFFORD DOHERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bo Curtis
Why don't you tell me what do you need
There is a blank page for you
Give me the bones of what you believe
Maybe they'll save you from me
Will I be the strong hand keeping you safe
or will I break you in half
and you will never be under my thumb
but you were not your own land
See the way we all run
When we know it off by heart
Played down, waiting all out
When we win or lose it this time
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
do you give up the things that you love
and the pressure's building till it takes you whole
can you go back on your own word
All of your brothers, they never died
For what you kill for slowly
How it will grind you into the ground
If you should try to hold me
See the way we all run
When we know it off by heart
Played down, waiting all out
When we win or lose it this time
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
do you give up the things that you love
and the pressure's building till it takes you whole
can you go back on your own word
When the pressure's building for a great white hope
do you give up the things that you love
and the pressure's building till it takes you whole
can you go back on your own word
Sergio Velásquez
Can't believe this is a bonus track, it's one of the best songs on the album.
Milk Carton
I think after 5 months of this record i can definitely say this is my favorite song on it. The chorus makes me cry everytime. It means a lot to me in my life right now. This record is an isntant classic to me and I really hope in ten years time it is recognised as one of the best of the 2010's in music mags lists. Not that it makes a difference to me but i just think it would be an injustice otherwise. I love how earnest it is. Theres not enough of these type of records anymore. Nothing sounds "put on" on this album. It feels...lived in. If that makes sense.
ReVeluv1814
Yeah, they are amazing. I wish I had this on my cd.
John Ryan
Milk Carton makes me crie eberytim
Gibus Wearing Mann
Nine years later and I am happy to report that in some capacity your wish has come true; in 2019 it was included on Pitchfork's top 200 albums of the decade.
abe
This is song is so epic. Like it's insane how good this song is. And it's a fkn bonus track???
PhilomathBret
I wish this amazing song were on the regular version of their album. I want to buy it. It'd be the first album I've bought in over 10 years.
Skarrrg
I've been thinking the same thing! Fuck it, I'm doing it =D
Kelpsicle
Skarrrg PhilomathBret Get it!
PhilomathBret
Kelpsicle OK. I did.